Best thermal spotter under £1k?

[SD198]

Hi all - I'm looking to buy a thermal spotter (new or used) but cannot really justify spending more than £1k. I will be using it exclusively for deer stalking in mostly wooded areas but with some fields. I have a day night scope so would only be using the spotter to detect deer and would then identify using binoculars or the scope. If viable in this price bracket it would be nice to be able to detect deer in woodland out to say 600 or 700m (obviously appreciating that that is dependant upon how dense the woodland is).

Having done a bit of research it seems that I might struggle in this price bracket to do better than the Hikmicro Lynx range. I think I could just about get a Lynx 2.0 in 25mm - or the Lynx 3.0 in 19mm perhaps.

Does in the know with thermals (unlike me!) have any advice on the Lynx option - or any other suggestions for alternatives? As a curve ball I have just seen comments suggesting that the hikmicro thunder is not bad as a spotter and they seem to be quite cheap (at least the original versions)?

Many thanks

 

[Jamie florence]

Slightly above your budget the infiray v2 35mm’s were being sold for £1300 recently. New price they were £2500 and would be a much better choice if you can find them on the deal still. The cheaper lynx will work but will not be as clear and may struggle at the ranges you are looking for.

 

[Storcky]

Have recently purchased the Lynx19 3.0 and wow, game changer or what.
Highly recommended, and if you shop around there's a good discount to be had atm.

 

[SD198]

Thanks for the replies. Even at that reduced price the Infiray is a little out of my budget.

Storcky - did you have a thermal before the Lynx and if so how did it compare? Do you think the 19 mm wood do what I need it to do?

 

[paulst]

I have had the lynx 19 2.0 for quite a while. Used it extensively for foxing at night. Can see heat signatures of cattle and sheep at 700m. Couldn’t identify anything st that distance but knowing what you expect to see helps. This is open land not woodland obviously. I have noted heat signatures that I guessed were roe deer at similar distances. If you know what you are likely to see I would suggest it would work.

 

[Cyres]

Best way to do it is to get a 24 month intrest free credit card and pay it off monthly within the intrest free period.. Get your money you were intending to use in a high intrest account. Also assists your credit score.
You can pick up a v good SH thermal at below your budget but atlas unless from a shop can't use a credit card.
D

 

[Donkey Basher]

I can totally recommend the Lynx 2.0 25

 

[Roncon1]

I can totally recommend the Lynx 2.0 25

I just picked up the 3.0 version and I was blown away with how good it was for the money

 

[Donkey Basher]

I just picked up the 3.0 version and I was blown away with how good it was for the money

Don’t say that… I’ll have to sell mine to the OP & upgrade to a 3.0

 

[Roncon1]

Don't go and look at them, I only nipped in to buy some spinners for my young fellas and walked out with one.
I had to tell the missus it was in the January sales

 

[Donkey Basher]

Hi all - I'm looking to buy a thermal spotter (new or used) but cannot really justify spending more than £1k. I will be using it exclusively for deer stalking in mostly wooded areas but with some fields. I have a day night scope so would only be using the spotter to detect deer and would then identify using binoculars or the scope. If viable in this price bracket it would be nice to be able to detect deer in woodland out to say 600 or 700m (obviously appreciating that that is dependant upon how dense the woodland is).

Having done a bit of research it seems that I might struggle in this price bracket to do better than the Hikmicro Lynx range. I think I could just about get a Lynx 2.0 in 25mm - or the Lynx 3.0 in 19mm perhaps.

Does in the know with thermals (unlike me!) have any advice on the Lynx option - or any other suggestions for alternatives? As a curve ball I have just seen comments suggesting that the hikmicro thunder is not bad as a spotter and they seem to be quite cheap (at least the original versions)?

Many thanks

Lynx 2.0 lh25 is well within your budget

Search results for: 'HIKMICRO Lynx 2.0 LH25 Smart Thermal Monocular'

www.opticswarehouse.co.uk

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Decent options, I would go for the new 3.0 version over the older discontinued models...

HikMicro Lynx LH25 3.0 Thermal Monocular

Explore the HikMicro Lynx 3.0 LH25 — advanced 384×288 thermal monocular with 25mm lens, 1200m detection range, and superior imaging clarity.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

HikMicro Lynx LH19 3.0 Thermal Monocular

Discover the HikMicro Lynx LH19 3.0 — a 384×288 thermal monocular with 19 mm lens, 900 m detection range, and superior Image Pro 3.0 clarity.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

 

[Storcky]

Thanks for the replies. Even at that reduced price the Infiray is a little out of my budget.

Storcky - did you have a thermal before the Lynx and if so how did it compare? Do you think the 19 mm wood do what I need it to do?

No l didn't own one but had used a mates old Pulsar and thought that was good, but the Lynx provides a much better field of view and picture quality.
I can pick out foxes a lot further out than l could shoot them, so yes l think it would cover your requirements.

 

[Greenmist]

I treated myself to a Lynx 3.0 LH35, little bit more than £1k but optics are fantastic

 

[Lone wolf]

I know budget is a concern here but if you could stretch to £1100 you could use a Oneleaf MT1000LRF 35mm, 640x512 sensor, built in LRF.

I've had a few guys buy the 35mm just to use as a spotter, with the added benefit of then being able to use it as a thermal scope with the supplied mount if desired, making it a versatile option.

A quirky bonus is the ability to swap out lenses if desired, 50mm and 75mm lenses are now available

Oneleaf Mars MT1000LRF 35mm - Veteran Shooting Supplies

Interchangeable Lenses for Versatility Switch lenses effortlessly. Oneleaf.ai Mars MT1000LRF 640x512 Thermal Imaging Scope offers a 35mm lens with 2x base magnification and a 50mm lens with 2.8x base magnification. Easily swap lenses with a simple twist-and-snap mechanism to adapt to your...

veteranshootingsupplies.co.uk

 

[SD198]

Thanks for flagging that - I have not come across that as an option; I will do some research.

 

[SD198]

Lone wolf- I've done a bit of research and can see the Oneleafs have very impressive specs for the money and seem to be popular in Australia and the US, so I'm tempted. Can't find many reviews (beyond user reviews)/ articles on them - are you aware of any? I gather they come with a 3-year warranty; if you have to rely on that where would the unit be returned to?

Thanks

 

[Lone wolf]

Lone wolf- I've done a bit of research and can see the Oneleafs have very impressive specs for the money and seem to be popular in Australia and the US, so I'm tempted. Can't find many reviews (beyond user reviews)/ articles on them - are you aware of any? I gather they come with a 3-year warranty; if you have to rely on that where would the unit be returned to?

Thanks

Hi SD198
Like you say already popular over the pond and down under, but new over here.

Specifications are hard to ignore and makes for a tempting buy.

3 year warranty and if the unit should develop a issue it would come to me and then I would personally deal with the repair/replacement giving UK buyers confidence that its dealt with on home soil with a person on the end of the phone if needed

 

[SDSRoe]

I've also been looking for something around this price point, I've narrowed it down to either the lynx 3.0 25mm or the pulsar xg30 axion compact, the pulsar being a bit more expensive, but ... it's a pulsar, I really want to get hand on with both before I jump in. I know hikmicro have a service centre in the uk, but pulsar being made in Europe and not china has me leaning slightly that way, does anyone have experience with the xg30 or any of the compact axions?

 

[tarponhead]

I've also been looking for something around this price point, I've narrowed it down to either the lynx 3.0 25mm or the pulsar xg30 axion compact, the pulsar being a bit more expensive, but ... it's a pulsar, I really want to get hand on with both before I jump in. I know hikmicro have a service centre in the uk, but pulsar being made in Europe and not china has me leaning slightly that way, does anyone have experience with the xg30 or any of the compact axions?

Im in the same boat - but wanting to upgrade from pulsar axion xm30s, which is 6 years old. I like the Hik interface as I have an Alpex 4k lite. My research says Pulsar service support is slow but rarely needed, Hik, I have read, can be problematic, but I’ve not needed it so far. My pick is a Lynx 3.0 but not sure if 19 is sufficient for my field pest control and woodland stalking vs carrying on with What I have. Finely balanced at the moment…